Support apparatus

ABSTRACT

Elevating and leveling apparatus for campers and other transportable objects, one preferred apparatus embodiment including a plurality of telescoping legs, one of which is extended and retracted by power means. A cable is anchored to another telescoping leg and traverses stationary-axis pulleys so that the other leg extends and retracts concurrently with the one leg. In another presently preferred embodiment, a plurality of telescoping legs are mounted upon the transportable object and the extensible portion of each telescopic leg is provided with a pulley near the upper end and the fixed portion of each leg is provided with a pulley near the lower end. A cable traverses each pulley and extends between the legs so that when the cable is shortened or displaced out of its normal path, each of the legs will simultaneously extend to uniformly lift the transportable object. Conversely, when the length of the cable is increased or when the cable is allowed to resume its normal path, the legs will simultaneously retract. The method includes jointly extending or retracting telescoping legs by displacing a cable connecting the legs. Alternatively, the method includes power displacing one leg and causing simultaneous displacement of another leg through a connecting cable.

United States Patent [191 Rasmussen et al.

[ Oct. 16, 1973 1 SUPPORT APPARATUS [76] Inventors: Reed Rasmussen, 168West Gentile, Layton, 8404]; Carl M. Rasmussen, 197 East 1400 South,Bountiful, 84010, both of Utah [22] Filed: Sept. 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:177,957

[52] US. Cl. 254/47 [51] Int. Cl B661 7/26 [58] Field of Search 254/45,47, 147, 254/148, 184', l87/8. 59; 214/515 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,164,275 l/1965 Schatzl... 254/47 2,648,521 8/1953 Sales254/47 3,305,216 2/1967 Gennard 254/47 3,414,087 12/1968 Schmiesing254/148 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant ExaminerRobert C.Watson Attorney-H. Ross Workman [57] ABSTRACT Elevating and levelingapparatus for campers and ;one ofwhiclris extended and retracted bypower means. A cable is anchored to another telescoping leg andtraverses stationary-axis pulleys so that the other leg extends andretracts concurrently with the one leg.

in another presently preferred embodiment, a plurality of telescopinglegs are mounted upon the transportable object and the extensibleportion of each telescopic leg is provided with a pulley near the upperend and the fixed portion of each leg is provided with a pulley near thelower end. A cable traverses each pulley and extends between the legs sothat when the cable is shortened or displaced out of its normal path,each of the legs will simultaneously extend to uniformly lift thetransportable object. Conversely, when the length of the cable isincreased or when the cable is allowed to resume its normal path, thelegs will simultaneously retract. The method includes jointly extendingor retracting telescoping legs by displacing a cable connecting thelegs. Alternatively, the method includes power displacing one leg andcausing simultaneous displacement of another leg through a connectingcable.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Get. 16, 1973 3,765,648-

2 Sheets-Sheet l REED RASMUSSEN CARL M, RASMUSSEN ATTORNEY Patented Oct.16, 1-973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

I04 ,/LIO6 P AIOZ H69 us 4 4 ma J 120 |22 FIG. 8

INVENTORS.

REED RASMUSSEN CARL M. RASMUSSEN ATTORNEY SUPPORT APPARATUSBACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to supportapparatus and method and more particularly to apparatus and method ofelevating and lowering a transportable object such as a camper and forquickly and easily leveling the object, when desired.

2. The Prior Art It has long been desirable for truck campers to havesupporting legs which support the camper in a generally horizontalorientation after the camper has been removed from a truck bed. Insupporting the camper in a preferred orientation upon the ground, thereare two specific processes which require attention. First of all, theelevation of the camper must be adjusted to a preferred height after thecamper has been removed from the truck. Secondly, once the preferredelevation is established, each of the support legs which carries thecamper must be adjusted so that the camper is substantially level.

One of the common ways in which campers are supported is by placing aleg at each corner of the camper, the leg being held by a conformingbracket. In using support apparatus of this type, it has historicallybeen the practice to extend two of the legs adjacent the rear of thecamper to approximately the preferred elevation for the camper, andthereafter, tightening the brackets so that the leg has no opportunityfor vertical movement. Thereafter, either before or after the camper hasbeen totally removed from the truck, the front legs are adjusted andtightened in the horizontal position. The camper is then leveled byindividually adjusting the extension of each of the corner legs.

Desirable improvements have been recently made to include telescopinglegs, each being independently extensible by use ofa screw or the liketo adjust the height of the camper. An example of this type leg isillustrated in U. S. Pat. No. 3,409,272. Unfortunately, however, inorder to adequately adjust the elevation of the camper and also in orderto level the camper, each of the extensible legs must be individuallyand separately adjusted.

The telescoping leg structure has been modified to include various typesof power means for extending the leg, including hydraulic power means.Nevertheless, until this present invention, it was necessary for theextension of each of the legs to be independently adjusted. Independentadjustment of the legs can be a severe disadvantage. Not only is theprocess tedious, consuming much time and energy, but a danger existswhen, for example, one of the legs becomes shortened too quickly. Inthat event there is a substantial risk that the camper can tumble to oneside, causing damage to the camper and risking injury to the operator.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present inventionprovides extensible support structure attached to a camper or othertransportable object at a plurality of locations on the camper orobject. The support structure elevates or lowers the camper or othertransportable object at the plurality of locations, simultaneously.Moreover, apparatus and method is provided for quickly and easilyleveling the camper either concurrently with the elevating step orindependent of the elevating step.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provideimproved apparatus for supporting a transportable object.

It is another primary object of the present invention to provide novelmethods for elevating and leveling a transportable object.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspectiveillustration of a conventional camper unit supported by structureaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of presently preferred apparatusaccommodating concurrent extension and retraction of support legs;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of one presentlypreferred mode of attaching a cable to a telescoping support leg;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of another presentlypreferred power extensible support leg embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a dependent support legusable with the leg of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the leg structure ofFIG. 4 and the associated power applying apparatus in mounted positionupon a transportable object; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate alternative selfleveling legembodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODI- MENTS The Embodiment of FIGS. 1-3

While the support apparatus comprising the present invention can be usedon any one of a wide variety of transportable objects, the most commonuse of the illustrated embodiments has been in connection with truckcampers such as a camper generally designated 20 illustrated in FIG. 1.The camper 20 comprises rear legs 22 and forward legs 24 and 26,respectively. The legs 24 and 26 are shown as mounted to the camper bodyalong the recessed wall 28. Clearly, however, the leg 24 may be mountedat any suitable location on the camper including the peripheral sideedge 30.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the support legs 24 and 26 are schematicallyshown. Support leg 16 has an exterior housing 32 into which anextensible inner member 34 is telescopically disposed. The exteriorhousing 32 has a port 36 into which is connected a fluid line 38interposed between the housing 32 and a conventional fluid pump 40. Afluid seal 42 is mounted peripherally upon the inner wall of the housingso as to maintain fluid from pump 40 between the inner member 34 and theinterior walls of the housing 32. Thus, it can be appreciated that thehousing 32 comprises a hydraulic cylinder, the extensible leg 34 formingthe cylinder piston.

When pressure is forced into the housing 32, the extensible leg 34 willextend telescopically out of the housing 32. Preferably, opposingbrackets 44 are mounted upon the exterior housing 32 and also upon theexterior housing 56 to form support plates for the body of camper 20.

A pulley 46 is rotatably mounted upon the exterior surface of thehousing 32. The pulley accommodates a cable 48, preferably formed ofmetal or other durable material. The cable 48 has, at its one end, anintegral nub 50 shown best in FIG. 3. The nub 50 has a diametraldimension which is larger than the diameter of cable 48 and is used toanchor the cable 48 to the extensible inner member 34 of leg 26. Asshown inboth FIGS. 2 and 3, leg 46 has a plurality of spaced apertures52, which have a tapered portion near the top thereof. The apertures 52are sufficiently large to accommodate insertion of the nub 50 and at thesame time prevent inadvertent disengagement of the nub 50 when the cable48 is urged into the tapered portion of the aperture.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cable 48 is stretched between support leg26 and support leg 24. The cable 48 passes through an aperture 54 in theexterior housing 56 of leg 24. Housing 56 is substantially similar tohousing 32 except that housing 56 does not include a hydraulic systemfor telescopically displacing the inner member 58 of support leg 24.Instead, the exterior housing 56 is internally provided with a rotatablepulley 60, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The cable 48 traverses thepulley 60 and is anchored in the upper end 62 of the extensible innermember 58. If desired, the other end of cable 48 may be provided with anub 64 which anchors into a tapered aperture in the upper end 62 ofinner member 58 in a manner substantially similar to the anchoring ofone end 50 into the inner member 34 illustrated in FIG. 3. Furthermore,if desired, the pulley 60 may be located exterior of housing 56.

The method of FIGS. 1-3 can best be understood by referring again toFIG. 2. As pressure is communicated from the pump 40 to the interior ofthe housing 32, the inner member 34 is forced downwardly as shown inFIG. 2. As the inner member 34 extends, the cable 48, anchored to thelower end 35 of the extensible inner member 34, is moved toward the leftas shown in FIG. 2. Concurrently, the cable exerts a downward force onthe extensible inner member 58 of the support leg 24. Thus, the leg 24extends concurrently with leg 26, even through hydraulic pressure isdirectly applied only in leg 26.

When the one end of cable 50 is anchored in one of the central aperturesas shown in FIG. 2, the effective length of legs 24 and 26 will besubstantially identical. However, if the camper is not on level ground,it may be desirable to anchor the cable 48 in other apertures. Forexample, if the nub 50 of cable 48 were anchored in the uppermostaperture, leg 26 could extend several inches before leg 24 would beginto extend concurrently with leg 26. Conversely, if the nub 50 wereanchored into the lowermost aperture of the extensible member 34, theleg 24 would be extended so as to have an effective length of as much asseveral inches longer than leg 26. If desired, leg 24 can be rested on apin or other restraint (not shown) and the cable 48 can be disconnectedand leg 26 operated independently to facilitate leveling.

Support legs 24 and 26 are illustrated for convenience as being mountednear the front of the camper. Clearly, the legs could be mounted nearthe rear of the camper. Furthermore, it is within the scope andcontemplated use of this invention to connect a plurality of cables tothe power leg 26 to be connected to dependent legs, for example, neareach of four corners of the camper 20.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 4-7

The embodiment of FIGS. 4-7 is substantially similar in many respects tothe embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, like parts having like numerals throughout.The embodiment of FIGS. 4-7 differs from the previous embodiment in thata system of pulleys and a take-up winch is utilized to extend andretract the telescoping support leg 70. With continued reference to FIG.4, the leg comprises an exterior housing or member 72 and an innerextensible member 74. The inner member 74 is substantially similar tomember 34 (FIG. 2) except that the upper portion thereof is providedwith an array of pulleys 76. The pulley array 76 is secured to the innermember 74 so as to reciprocate with the member 74 as it telescopicallyextends and retracts within the housing 72.

The housing 72, has, interior thereof, pulleys 78, 79, and 81 which arerotatably attached to the interior walls of housing 72. A pulley array77 is rotatably mounted interior of the housing 72 adjacent the topthereof. A connecting cable 82 traverses the pulleys 73, 78, 79, 80, 81and the pulley array 77 and is secured to a winch or take-up mandrelgenerally designated 84 (FIG. 7). A second cable 83 traverses pulleyarrays 76 and 77 and also is secured to winch 84. Both cables 82 and 83are anchored to plate 71 interior of member 74. When the winch 84 isturned with a suitable handle (not shown), the length of cable 82 willbe shortened so that the pulleys 79 and 73 will be forced toward thepulleys 78, 80 and 81 thereby extending the inner member 74 to increasethe effective length of leg 70. If desired, a conventional ratchetlocking mechanism 88 may be used to prevent inadvertent release of thecable 82. Concurrently, cable 83 is lengthened from winch 84 toaccommodate the extension. By reversing the direction of rotation of thewinch, the cable 83 is shortened to draw pulley array 76 to pulley array77 so as to retract the inner member 74.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the outer member 72 has an exterior bracket88 secured thereto such as with bolts 90. Bracket 88 supports a pulley92 rotatably upon shaft 94. The pulley 94 serves the same function aspulley 46 (FIG. 2) by accommodating a change of direction of cable 48 tofacilitate attachment of the cable 48 into the apertures 52 of innermember 74. As can be appreciated by reference to FIG. 6, cable 48traverses a pulley 60 mounted upon the exterior 56 of leg 24. Leg 24,illustrated in FIG. 6, is substantially the same in structure andoperation as leg 24 illustrated in FIG. 2.

As the winch or take-up mandrel 84 is rotated in one direction, thesupport leg 70 will be lengthened when the inner member 74 extends outof the outer member 72. When the cable 48 is anchored in one of theapertures 52 in the inner member 74, the cable 48 will be displacedtoward the left as shown in FIG. 6 thereby forcing the inner member 62out of the exterior member 56 so that leg 24 is simultaneously extended.Conversely, when the winch 84 is rotated in the opposite direction, bothlegs 70 and 24 will be simultaneously retracted.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 The embodiments of FIGS. l-3 and 4-7,above described, each disclose one leg which is power-displaced to anextended and/or retracted position and a secondary or dependent legwhich is extended or retracted in response to the energy or forceapplied 'to the first leg (see FIG. 2, for example). The embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9 differs from the foregoing embodiments principally in thatthe extensible force conducted essentially uniformly through both legsis dependent upon a displacing force exerted upon a connecting cable.

The differences will be more specifically understood by reference toFIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, legs generally designated 100 and 102 areschematically illustrated in side-by-side relation. It should beappreciated that although two legs are shown any plural number of legsin excess of two could be used according to the present invention. Eachleg has an exterior housing or receiving member 104 and 106. Similarly,each leg 100 and 102 has a corresponding inner telescoping member 108and 110. Each of the inner telescoping members 108 and 110 has acorresponding pulley 112 and 114, respectively adjacent the upper endthereof. Similarly, each of the exterior members 104 and 106 has acorresponding pulley 116 and 118 rotatably journaled thereto. The pulleymay be exterior or interior of the members 104 and 106, as desired.

A connecting cable 120 has one end anchored to the exterior member 106intermediate the length of the member, preferably adjacent the lower end122. The cable 120 traverses the upper pulley 114, the pulley 118 and,where pulley 118 is an interior pulley, projects through an aperture 124in the exterior member 106.

The cable then enters the exterior member 104 through an aperture 126,similar in intent and purpose to aperture 124. The cable traverses thepulleys 116 and 120 and is anchored to the member 104 adjacent its lowerend 128. Preferably, conventional structure is connected to anintermediate length of the cable 120 so as to displace the cable 120,for example, in the direction of arrow P, when desired. An example ofsuitable conventional structure may include a hydraulic cylinder (notshown) mounted adjacent the bottom of camper (FIG. 1), the extensiblepiston of which is attached to the intermediate portion of cable 120.When the cylinder piston (not shovlfii) is extended, the cable 120 isdisplaced out of its natural path thereby exerting a displacing force onthe cable so as to urge the pulleys 104, 116 and 114, 118 toward oneanother. The mentioned displacement will extend the inner members 108and 110 thereby lengthening the supporting legs 100 and 102. Conversely,when the cable 120 is allowed to resume its natural position, naturalweight of the camper on the legs 108 and 110 will telescope the innermembers into the exterior members 104 and 106.

This presently preferred embodiment of the invention has a particularadvantage worth noting. If a camper having supporting legs 100 and 102is situated upon uneven or sloping terrain, displacement of the cable120 will cause the support legs 100 and 102 to extend ununiformly untileach engages the ground. One of the support legs 100 or 102 may berequired to extend several inches beyond the other before both legsengage the ground. Thus, it is presently preferred that lateral or inline displacement of the cable 120 be accommodated even during the stepof forcing the cable out of its natural path. As long as the cable hasfreedom for in line" displacement, legs 100 and 102 can extend oneindependent of the other until the ground is engaged. Thereafter,continued displacement of cable 120 will cause an equal force to beexerted through the support legs so that the camper remains level as itis el' evated even though the ground surface supporting the camper isnot level.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of FIG. 9 which is substantiallythe same in many respects as the embodiment of FIG. 8, like parts havinglike numerals throughout. The FIG. 9 embodiment differs from the FIG. 8embodiment particularly in that the cable 120 is projected through anaperture (not shown) adjacent the lower end 133 of leg 100. The cable120, after traversing pulleys 112 and 117 projects through the aperture(not shown) and is connected to a take-up mandrel or winch 134.Extension and retraction of the support legs and 102 occurssubstantially as described in the FIG. 8 embodiment except that thecable is shortened or lengthened depending upon the direction ofrotation of the winch 134.

Clearly, the operation of support legs 100 and 102 is not dependent uponthe type of apparatus used for displacing the cable 120. Rather, anysuitable apparatus for displacing the cable which exerts a closing forcebetween pulleys 112, 116 and 114, 118 is suitable.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodimentsare to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and notrestrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. Apparatus for a transportable object having a primary supporting legand at least one secondary supporting leg, each comprising a first andsecond member, the second member being longitudinally displaceablerelative to the first comprising:

power means acting downwardly upon the secondary member of the primarysupporting leg to selectively extend the second member relative to thefirst; single connecting means connecting the second member of theprimary supporting leg to the second member of the secondary supportingleg so that extension of the second member of the primary legconcurrently extends the second member of the secondary leg acorresponding distance; and

means for selectively adjusting the location of the attachment of theconnecting means to the second member of one of the primary andsecondary supporting legs.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means comprises awinch and pulley combination connected by cables to form a tackle.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means comprises ahydraulic cylinder and an extendible hydraulic piston.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said single connecting meanscomprises a cable which is (a) anchored to the top of the second memberof the secondary leg and (b) movably supported at fixed locations on thefirst members of both the primary and secondary legs and (c) anchored tothe second member of the primary leg near the bottom thereof.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising means forreceiving an anchoring fastener at any one of a plurality of verticallocations along the second member of the primary leg.

6. Apparatus for supporting on uneven terrain a transportable objecthaving at least two supporting legs, each leg comprising a first and asecond member, the second member being longitudinally extensiblerelative to the first, comprising:

means accommodating a change of direction of a pulling force, at leastone of said accommodating means being mounted on each of the first andsecond members of the supporting legs;

a flexible line serially traversing the accommodating means of the firstand second members of both of the supporting legs;

means accommodating independent extensibility of the second member ofeach leg in response to displacement of the flexible line; and

means for exerting a displacing force on the flexible line to-urgeextension of each second member relative to'its corresponding firstmember, the extensibility of the one leg being greater than the otherleg so as to maintain the object level when supported upon uneventerrain.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said accommodating meanscomprises at least one pulley.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said exerting means comprisesa winch for varying the length of the line.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said exerting means comprisesmeans for displacing the line out of its normal path.

1. Apparatus for a transportable object having a primary supporting legand at least one secondary supporting leg, each comprising a first andsecond member, the second member being longitudinally displaceablerelative to the first comprising: power means acting downwardly upon thesecondary member of the primary supporting legs to selectively extendthe second member relative to the first; single connecting meansconnecting the second member of the primary supporting leg to the secondmember of the secondary supporting leg so that extension of the secondmember of the primary leg concurrently extends the second member of thesecondary leg a corresponding distance; and means for selectivelyadjusting the location of the attachment of the connecting means to thesecond member of one of the primary and secondary supporting legs. 2.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means comprises awinch and pulley combination connected by cables to form a tackle. 3.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means comprises ahydraulic cylinder and an extendible hydraulic piston.
 4. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said single connecting means comprises acable which is (a) anchored to the top of the second member of thesecondary leg and (b) movably supported at fixed locations on the firstmembers of both the primary and secondary legs and (c) anchored to thesecond member of the primary leg near the bottom thereof.
 5. Apparatusas defined in claim 4 further comprising means for receiving ananchoring fastener at any one of a plurality of vertical locations alongthe second member of the primary leg.
 6. Apparatus for supporting onuneven terrain a transportable object having at least two supportinglegs, each leg comprising a first and a second member, the second memberbeing longitudinally extensible relative to the first, comprising: meansaccommodating a change of direction of a pulling force, at least one ofsaid accommodating means being mounted on each of the first and secondmembers of the supporting legs; a flexible line serially traversing theaccommodating means of the first and second members of both of thesupporting legs; means accommodating independent extensibility of thesecond member of each leg in response to displacement of the flexibleline; and means for exerting a displacing force on the flexible line tourge extension of each second member relative to its corresponding firstmember, the extensibility of the one leg being greater than the otherleg so as to maintain the object level when supported upon uneventerrain.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said accommodatingmeans comprises at least one pulley.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6wherein said exerting means comprises a winch for varying the length ofthe line.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said exerting meanscomprises means for displacing the line out of its normal path.